Category Archives: Nordic Walking

Poor footwear, especially high heels, cause problems from the big toe right up to the spine.

The first area we see problems are painful lumps (called bunions) on the outside of your big toe. Typically a bunion forms from pressure on the front of the foot causing a deviation in the bones of the big toe. It creates painful pressure contact on the bunion, looks unsightly and the big toe can get stiff.

Another issue with high heels are tight calf muscles. Because as your heels are elevated, it shortens the calf muscle. This shortened muscle can have a biomechanical impact on the legs. Constant wear also applies pressure to the shin bone and added stress to it can lead to issues such as ‘shin splints’ – pain on the front of the shin, which is common in runners.

You can also get calluses, hard patches of skin, under the front and ball of the foot.

Although there is a force distribution going through the hip joint, while wearing high heels, it may not directly causes specific hip problems but it does cause stress on the area!

The best way to avoid these conditions is to give the feet a rest!

Limit the amount of time in high heels if you need to wear them to work.

Always commute in flats and trainers to take the stress away from hips and knees.

Those who frequently wear heels should do calf stretches.

There are self help remedies you can do to deal with pain, such as standing on the edge of a step and letting the heel drop towards the next step, allowing the feet to stretch

Massaging the sole of the feet can help – try using a golf ball or a rolling pin.

Other remedies include a hot bath and mobilisation, such as drawing circles or the alphabet with your foot.

What is Nordic Walking?

Founded in Finland and used as a cross-country skiing summer training method. Nordic walking uses specially designed poles to engage the upper body during fitness walking. Involving the upper body takes some of the effort from the lower limbs and propels the body forward. This makes walking distances seem easier, especially up hills and inclines.

I offer to help clients, who wish to become more active (and lose weight by getting back into regular exercise) to learn Nordic Walking. Nordic Walking Technique can help improve walking gait and posture. This can be done during hour long one-to-one sessions or small group sessions. We use local parkland areas such as The Carrs and Styal Country Park, as well as small urban parks such as Meriton Park, Handforth.

Benefits of Nordic Walking

Uses 90% of the skeletal muscles

Burns up to 46% more calories than ordinary walking

Reduces the pressure on the knees and joints.

Poles propel the walker along, making it easier to move faster than normal without feeling the effort.

Increases upper body strength.

Ideal for neck, shoulder and back problems

Lifetime Activity

Great for weight loss and general conditioning.

It is a total body workout!

It is a great social activity and you can enjoy with friends and family for a lifetime.

For those who have difficulty walking and need to have more stability from a walking pole, I can provide Activator Poles, which allows for greater weight bearing through the pole which can increase confidence with walking.

Thank you for your attention …ready to have a go?!

Wilmslow Wellbeing Walks

I’m raising money for the British Heart Foundation during February 2018 and I’d be so grateful for your support.

The BHF is the nation’s heart charity and the largest independent funder of cardiovascular research, which has helped to transform the lives of people living with heart and circulatory conditions. Coronary heart disease is the UK’s single biggest killer but they are leading the fight against it.

The British Heart Foundation has awarded £1million over the next 5 years to continue its support for The National Prevention Research Initiative, a collaboration between government departments, research councils and medical charities to encourage research into the prevention of heart disease.

This grass-roots work is vital to improving the health of people in the UK. For example, some projects are looking at particular communities and ways to encourage them to incorporate better lifestyle choices in their daily routine – such as walking, using green space, and healthier eating, particularly for children.

“I’m starting up regular Wellbeing Walks in Wilmslow”

This is for you to join me for a Nordic Walk in Wilmslow and surrounding areas for a small donation which will go to the BHF.

The aim is to become more active and manage our weight. We will meet up and then go for an hour Nordic Walking.

“Nordic Walking involves the upper body more making it a whole body exercise.”

I will provide the poles and information from the BHF to support us in making lifestyle changes.

The BHF has helped halve the number of people dying from heart and circulatory disease in the UK but sadly every day hundreds of people lose their lives. It’s only thanks to support from people like us that the BHF can create new treatments and discover new cures. £25 could pay for an hour of research by an early career scientist, but every pound helps so please give what you can to help me hit my target.

For more information please give me a call:

07547 631679

Wilmslow Health Walks

I am introducing Health Walks for people who’d like to get more active and lose weight with a bit of support. Many of us find that controlling our weight can be difficult from time to time. Many of us also feel we’d like to exercise more and eat more carefully but need some help to get on track with this. Eating well, keeping our weight under control and being physically active can help protect ourselves against Heart Disease and Type 2 Diabetes.

These Health Walks will start from Wilmslow CAM Clinic where we will meet up and then we’ll go for a Nordic Walkin The Carrs to Styal Country Park or Lindow Common. It will be about an hour.

I have some great weight management resources that will be available to you if you join my sessions. For those unfamiliar with Nordic Walking Technique, you will need to do a one-one session with me before you join in the regular sessions. I will provide the poles with a nominal charge, part of which will go to The British Heart Foundation. If you have nordic walking poles and want to use your own, I will just ask if you would give a small donation to the charity.

Once you get used to the Nordic Walking Technique you’ll find your walking gait and posture will improve and you’ll become much more aware of the way you’re walking. You’ll probably start to walk better even without the poles!

“My aim is to help people, like myself, who have a family history of Heart Disease”

The small group sessions will be open to everyone and the aim will be for you to enjoy walking and feel the benefits to mind and body.

01625 533813

07547 631679

Mindful Nordic Walking

Walk well with a relaxed body and mind

Mindful Nordic Walking uses specially designed poles to engage the upper body during walking. Involving the upper body takes some of the effort from the lower limbs and propels the body forward. It can help you to improve your walking gait and posture, become more active and lose weight by getting back into regular exercise.

I am planning a series of walks and workshops with Mindfulness teacher, Katie Sheen. Together we will be combining the benefits of Nordic Walking and Mindfulness.

I will introduce you to the Nordic Walking Technique in parkland areas around Wilmslow, Bramhall, Macclesfield and other Cheshire areas and will provide the poles.

The mindful walking section will be led by Soul Nutrition Founder, Katie Sheen.

Katie has been practicing mindfulness in her own life for over fifteen years. She attends the Heart of Manchester Sangha, a group of local people from a variety of faiths who practice mindful living in the tradition of Zen Buddhist Master Thich Nhat Hanh. You can read more about Katie on the Soul Nutrition team page

Our aim is to help you relieve stress in the body and mind, learn to walk well with good posture and, most of all, enjoy the wonderful benefits of exercising in the outdoors in the beautiful parkland areas of Cheshire!